Three-dimensional layered map

ABSTRACT

A map having surfaces that are depicted at different levels that are not related to topography, with boundaries between the surfaces, where the boundaries are disposed at travel ways. The travel ways form cliff faces in the map between the surfaces, with information items disposed on the cliff faces at positions corresponding to items of interest at locations along the travel ways where the information items are disposed.

FIELD

This application claims rights and priority on prior pending PCTapplication PCT/US2014/030170 filed 2014 Mar. 17 and U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 61/788,963 filed 2013 Mar. 15. This disclosurerelates to the field of maps. More particularly, this disclosure relatesto a multi-tiered layered map having additional space for labeledfeatures and points of interest.

INTRODUCTION

Maps are used for navigating and identifying points of interest, amongother uses. When a point of interest is depicted on a map, a notation isoften placed on the map, such as an identifying number or icon, whicheither indicates by itself the nature of the point of interest, or isassociates the point of interest with a corresponding legend.

However, printing points of interest on the face of conventionaltwo-dimensional maps takes up valuable space and obscures other areas ofinterest on the map. Additionally, only limited amounts of informationmay be labeled on a particular map before the area around the point ofinterest becomes too cluttered with notations.

What is needed, therefore, is a map that reduces issues such as thosedescribed above, at least in part.

SUMMARY

The above and other needs are met by a map having surfaces that aredepicted at different levels that are not related to topography, withboundaries between the surfaces, where the boundaries are disposed attravel ways. The travel ways form cliff faces in the map between thesurfaces, with information items disposed on the cliff faces atpositions corresponding to items of interest at locations along thetravel ways where the information items are disposed.

In various embodiments according to this aspect of the invention, themap is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensionalstructure. In other embodiments the map is formed as a three-dimensionalstructure. In some embodiments the travel ways include at least one of aroad, path, trail, waterway, walkway, bus route, and train rail. In someembodiments the items of interest include at least one of a business,traffic condition, travel way condition, weather condition,construction, transit schedule, toll, fare, and scenic information atthe corresponding position along the travel ways. In some embodimentsthe information items include at least one of text, audio, video,animation, fixed graphic, and icon. In some embodiments the cliff faceis divided into rows and columns of information items. In someembodiments a valence is disposed along the cliff face, wheresubstantially all of the valence is visible. In some embodiments the mapis displayed on a computer monitor. In some embodiments the map isprinted on paper. In some embodiments the map is displayed on a computermonitor and is interactive with a user who selects different travel wayson which to form boundaries and cliff faces. In some embodiments theinformation items are updated in real time.

According to another aspect of the invention there is described aprocessor-based system for producing a map. A processor retrieves mapinformation, including travel ways and information items correspondingto items of interest along the travel ways. A memory stores the mapinformation, and map positions of interest and travel ways of interestare selected with a user interface. A display presents the map positionsof interest and travel ways of interest. The map has surfaces that aredepicted at different levels that are not related to topography, withboundaries between the surfaces. The boundaries are disposed at thetravel ways of interest, which form cliff faces in the map between thesurfaces. The information items are disposed on the cliff faces atpositions corresponding to locations along the travel ways of interestwhere the items of interest are located.

In various embodiments according to this aspect of the invention thetravel ways include at least one of a road, path, trail, waterway,walkway, bus route, and train rail. In some embodiments the items ofinterest include at least one of a business, traffic condition, travelway condition, weather condition, construction, transit schedule, toll,fare, and scenic information at the corresponding position along thetravel ways. In some embodiments the information items include at leastone of text, audio, video, animation, fixed graphic, and icon. In someembodiments the information items are updated in real time.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is described aprocessor-based method for producing a map, by retrieving with theprocessor map information, including travel ways and information itemscorresponding to items of interest along the travel ways. The mapinformation is stored in a memory. Map positions of interest and travelways of interest are selected from the memory, and presented. Surfacesof the map are depicted at different levels that are not related totopography, with boundaries between the surfaces. The boundaries aredisposed at the travel ways of interest, which form cliff faces in themap between the surfaces. The information items are disposed on thecliff faces at positions corresponding to locations along the travelways of interest where the items of interest are located.

In various embodiments according to this aspect of the invention, thetravel ways include at least one of a road, path, trail, waterway,walkway, bus route, and train rail. In some embodiments the items ofinterest include at least one of a business, traffic condition, travelway condition, weather condition, construction, transit schedule, toll,fare, and scenic information at the corresponding position along thetravel ways. In some embodiments the information items include at leastone of text, audio, video, animation, fixed graphic, and icon. In someembodiments the information items are updated in real time.

DRAWINGS

Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to thedetailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures,which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, whereinlike reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the severalviews, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a three-dimensional map according to afirst embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the conversion of a two-dimensional map to athree-dimensional map according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the conversion of a two-dimensional map into athree-dimensional map according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a three-dimensional map depicting roadconditions according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a three-dimensional map displaying avalence according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a three-dimensional map displaying weatherinformation according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to FIG. 1, there is depicted a three-dimensionallayered map 102 according to an embodiment of the invention. In thisembodiment, the layered map 102 is divided into multiple tiers or layersthat are created along various geographical boundaries, routes, orroadways on the surface of the map. Each separately raised layer of themap creates a cliff face 110 that occupies a vertical space of differentheights created between each layer. The height of each cliff face 110can be adjusted to accommodate different amounts of informationalcontent, such as that represented by text, numbers, icons, thumbnails,photos, video windows, and other graphic content containers or anycombinations thereof.

It is appreciated that the map 102 of FIG. 1, and the otherthree-dimensional layered maps as depicted herein, are two-dimensionalrepresentations of three-dimensional constructs. The present inventioncontemplates such two-dimensional representations, such as might bedepicted on a display, projected, or printed. However, the inventionalso contemplates actual three-dimensional maps, such as might beconstructed of wood, plastic, or paper.

FIG. 1 illustrates a map of Chattanooga, Tenn., divided into variouslayers. A first layer 104 is created along a first route 106 of the map102. A second layer 112 may be created along a second route 114, thesecond layer 112 having a border defined by the first route 106 and thesecond route 114. In this embodiment, the cliff face 110 is a directrepresentation of the roadway from which it was developed.

The height of each individual layer and associated cliff face 110relative to a base layer 108 of the map 102 is based in one embodimenton the number of points of interest along the roadway that defines thecliff face 110 and the edge of the layer. For example, route 106 of FIG.1 may represent an interstate highway having multiple exits withmultiple points of interest at each exit. As such, the height of thefirst layer 104 corresponding to the first route 106 may besubstantially higher than the second layer 112 that may represent alocal highway having fewer points of interest.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the first layer 104 includes a first cliffface 110 occupying the vertical space between the first layer 104 andadjacent layers. The cliff face 110 may be populated with multiplenotations 118 corresponding to various points of interest along thefirst route 106. The notations may be icons or symbols representing gasstations, restaurants, tourist attractions, as well as other points ofinterest, and may be displayed on the cliff face 110 at theirrepresentative geographical locations along the first route 106.Additionally, a cliff face may be populated with thumbnails 134 for thepurpose of replacing text with digital images that visually describepoints of interest along a particular route.

For example, if an exit along a major interstate highway includesservice stations, lodging, and dining, notations 118 may be placed onthe cliff face 110 such as icons indicating that the particular exit hasthese points of interest. By placing the notations 118 on the cliff face110, a plurality of notations 118 may be placed at the proper locationrelative to the exit on the map 102 while allowing the surface of themap to remain substantially uncluttered and unobstructed by thenotations 118. Further, by providing a taller cliff face 110 for routesthat include large numbers of points of interest, more information maybe provided within the vertical area of the cliff face than isordinarily allowed on a conventional two-dimensional map in whichnotations are printed directly on the map face. By using the cliff face110 to place the notations 118 along a route as opposed to using a mapincluding a legend, a user of the map is able to readily identify thepoints of interest along the route without needing to refer to aseparate legend, and advantageously, a user can access more informationconcerning a particular point of interest than typically can beaccommodated on a conventional, two-dimensional map.

In more detail, still referring to the embodiment of FIG. 1, routeidentification data, such as interstate highway shields 120, state routenumbers 122, and street names 124, may be displayed on the correspondingcliff face for easy use in navigation. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 1, a first cliff face 110 is created along a first route 106, whichis identified directly on the cliff face as interstate highway I-75/I-24120. A branching cliff face is created along the route designated asBonnie Oaks Rd. 124 and is shown as an exit off of interstate highwayI-75/I-24 120. The Bonnie Oaks Rd. cliff face 124 intersects with thecliff face created along SR 153 (designated as 122), which, in turn,intersects with the cliff face created along the route shown as AmnicolaHwy 126, also known as SR 58. As further shown in FIG. 1, a second layer112 is partially created along the routes designated on thecorresponding cliff faces as Lee Hwy 130, which intersects with BonnieOaks Rd. 124, and Shallowford Rd. 132, which intersects Lee Hwy 130.

In one embodiment, an interactive three-dimensional layered map isprovided on a computer. The interactive map may be presented initiallyon a computer display to appear as a two-dimensional map 200, asdepicted in FIG. 3, such as might be presented by one or more on-linemap services. The user may learn more information about a particularroute by selecting the desired route on the computer, such as byclicking on the route, or selecting it from a menu of visible routes inthe depicted portion of the map. When the route is selected, thedisplayed two-dimensional map 200 (FIG. 3) may be converted to display athree-dimensional layered map, such as depicted in FIG. 2, having alayer corresponding to the desired route, revealing the cliff face 110that includes the points of interest along the desired route. When theuser selects another route, the three-dimensional layered map displayedon the computer may display the new route layer, thus revealing thecorresponding cliff face that contains the points of interest for theselected route.

The points of interest may further be comprised of hyperlinks allowingaccess to additional information about a particular point of interestwhen a user selects that point of interest, or will take a user toanother screen or a website corresponding to that particular point ofinterest.

In some embodiments a grid is displayed on the cliff face, whichprovides a method of displaying more than one piece of information for agiven location, by stacking the information pieces vertically within thegrid on the cliff face. In this manner, an index of sorts can be createdon the cliff face. In some embodiments, different textures are mappedonto the cliff face, which tends to further distinguish it from the mapsurfaces. In some embodiments, the cliff face can be interacted with,such as by a user with a mouse, and can be pulled up higher or expanded,thereby enabling a greater amount of information to be displayed. Insome embodiments the cliff face is open, so that a portion of the map isvisible through the cliff face, such as is depicted for Brainerd Roadand Lee Highway in FIG. 1.

In some embodiments, lights, shadows, reflections, and projections ofthe cliff face are used to display portions of the cliff face that wouldotherwise be obscured from view behind bends in the roads that producethe cliff face. In some embodiments the cliff face is animated, andscrolls, such as in either a vertical or horizontal direction. In someembodiments the cliff face continuously displays highway web cam video.In some embodiments both directions of the web cam video is displayed,either side by side or in an over under configuration. In someembodiments the cliff face displays a Q code or other bar code, suchthat when scanned will display additional information on a smart phoneor other device.

In some embodiments the cliff face displays coupons of businesseslocated along the road. In some embodiments an additional band is placedalong at least one of the top or bottom of the cliff face on the surfaceof the map, and which band displays any of the information describedherein. In some embodiments the cliff face comprises multiple clifffaces, each disposed behind the other, and a user can slide one cliffface down to display the one behind it. This can be done in a rotatingmode to continuously flip through all of the available cliff faces. Forexample, one cliff face could have business information, another cliffface could have weather information, another cliff face could havetraffic information, another cliff face could have scenic information,another cliff face could depict evacuation directions or other emergencyprocedures or situations, and so on.

In another embodiment the cliff face presents animation of vehicle/iconmovements for an on-line map used in a social media traffic communityenvironment, where a community of travelers is connected and communicatevia a mobile application. Currently the movements and graphicrepresentation of their vehicles are bubbles on a map. The cliff faceprovides a space in which to plot the movements of these vehicle iconsas they move about the city and roadways. There is a space problem whenthe number of people/users converge on the same roadway, and the iconsoverlap and occlude one another. With the cliff face, there is enoughspace to plot a multiplicity of users/icon vehicles in traffic socialmedia communities.

In some embodiments a cliff face is raised for the desired route betweena starting point and a stopping point, with desired information for thetrip displayed on the cliff face. In some embodiments the maps layersare graphics, in some they are satellite imagery, and in some they areterrestrial imagery, where the user is able to control which type of mapis depicted.

In another embodiment, a three-dimensional layered map may be providedfor various types of maps including transit and tourist maps. A transitmap may be developed according to the present disclosure wherein thevarious routes of the maps are defined by transit routes. Timetables andtransit fares may be placed on the cliff face between each route layerindicating the various times that transit transportation stops at eachdesignated location along the route and the corresponding fare. Aseparate timetable may be placed on the cliff face at a locationcorresponding to a transit stop for the particular route.

Further, an interactive transit map may be provided according to thepresent disclosure. The interactive transit map may be configured tooperate on a computer or on a mobile computing device, such as asmartphone or tablet. The interactive transit map may allow a user toselect a desired transit route for traveling to a particular location.When a user selects the desired transit route, a layer is created basedon that route having a cliff face including the various timetables forstops along that route. When a user desires to select an alternativetransit route, the newly selected route may be shown along with thecliff face and related timetables.

The transit map including timetable information may be manually createdby inputting timetables available from a local transit authority.Alternatively, the transit map may be automatically created usinginformation available online, such as information provided on localtransit websites, Google Transit, and other similar online databases.

In yet another embodiment, an interactive three-dimensional layeredtourist map according to the present disclosure may be provided. Theinteractive tourist map may include routes of interest, such as routesthat include scenic views or historical points of interest. When a userselects the desired tourist route, a layer is created based on thatroute having a cliff face. On the cliff face various information may bedisplayed such as where a particular scenic view or point of interest islocated.

In one embodiment, various photos may be shown on the cliff face alongthe particular route on the tourist map. Various photos are publiclyavailable online that include geographic location data. When a userselects a desired route on the interactive tourist map, publiclyavailable photos that were taken along this route may be displayed onthe cliff face of the route along with the point of interestinformation.

In a further embodiment, an interactive three-dimensional layered mapaccording to the present disclosure may be used to display variousroadwork information. In this embodiment, a user may select a desiredroute on the interactive map. Information may be displayed on a cliffface created by the desired route that includes construction dates, laneclosures, and the time of day the construction will occur. Thisinformation may be either entered into the interactive map manually orthe interactive map may automatically generate the information based onpublicly available websites and databases providing road constructioninformation.

In one embodiment, the interactive three-dimensional layered map may beprogrammed on the computer to automatically retrieve publicly availableinformation to be displayed on the cliff face of the layered map, suchas transit timetables, photos along a particular route, roadwork times,and other available information.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of creating athree-dimensional layered map is provided. In one embodiment, athree-dimensional layered map may be created based on informationavailable in a standard two-dimensional map. For example, atwo-dimensional road map including point of interest information alongroads on the map may be interpreted to produce a three-dimensionallayered map. Desired roads from the two-dimensional map may be selectedand given a desired layer height based on factors such as the frequencyof traffic on each road or the number of points of interest along theroad. Each road may then be divided into separate layers, with points ofinterest placed on the cliff face created by the vertical space betweeneach layer of each road.

In one embodiment, a three-dimensional layered map according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure may be made by manually enteringinformation into a computer based on a standard two-dimensional map.FIG. 3 illustrates a standard two-dimensional map 200 showing variousroutes 202. The routes that are to be made into layers may bedesignated, and information corresponding to points of interest alongthat route may be placed on the subsequent cliff face created as part ofthat layer. The standard two-dimensional map 200 serves as a base map,which is used to build the multi-tiered map illustrated in FIG. 2. Forexample, a first surface area 304, as shown in FIG. 3, may be convertedto the first layer 204 of the three-dimensional multi-tiered map 102depicted in FIG. 2, thereby creating the first cliff face 110.Similarly, a second surface area 312 (shown in FIG. 3) may be convertedto the second layer 212 of the three-dimensional multi-tiered map 102 ofFIG. 2. After conversion to a three-dimensional multi-tiered map 102, abase surface area 308 (FIG. 3) corresponds to the base layer 208illustrated in FIG. 2.

In some embodiments the map 102 is produced by and displayed on acomputer, such as a standard personal computer, having a processor,memory, user input, and a display. Such a computer would be operable toproduce and display the maps 102 as described herein.

In another embodiment, an interactive three-dimensional layered map maybe created based on two-dimensional maps available publicly on theInternet such as those available on Google Maps. The publicly availablemaps may be viewed and an interactive layered map may be createdincluding points of interest and other information available through thepublicly available map database. For example, a route may be traced onthe layered map and information gathered such as the number of points ofinterest along that route. Using the publicly available information, theheight of each layer may be automatically configured depending on thenumber of points of interest.

The interactive three-dimensional layered map may be programmed toautomatically update points of interest along a route. The interactivelayered map may periodically check for updates along a route, such as ifa new point of interest has been created. If the interactive layered mapdetects a new point of interest, that point of interest may then beautomatically added to the cliff face of the layered map.

Example

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an exemplary conversion of a two-dimensionalmap into a three-dimensional map according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. A two-dimensional map of the Airport/Elm Hill PikeNashville MTA bus route is shown in FIG. 4, including the bus route andstops along the route. Typically the two-dimensional map is accompaniedby a timetable indicating the times that a bus stops along each stop ofthe bus route.

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional map of the two-dimensional bus route mapof FIG. 4 wherein a cliff face is created along the main bus route.Timetables are shown on the cliff face at the position of the stop,thereby allowing easy association of a particular timetable with aparticular stop and precluding the necessity to separate the timetableschedule from individual stops.

While reference is made to a three-dimensional map that may beprogrammed and displayed on a computer interface, it is also understoodthat the three-dimensional map may be a physical model constructed ofwood, plastic, metal and other similar materials. The three-dimensionalmap may have integrated displays for electronically displaying content.Further, a physical version of the three-dimensional map may includemechanical components that raise and lower various surface areas andcliff faces of the three-dimensional map to reveal or show content onthose cliff faces.

In one embodiment, each level or tier of the three-dimensional map mayoperate as a support or shelf to place content or objects. For example,referring to FIG. 6, each surface area or tier of the three-dimensionalmap may support one or more content containers or other objects such asframes with screens in them for displaying movies, graphics, ads, andother content. The frames positioned on the tiers contain content thatmay be relevant to the particular area of the map or cliff face, andsits in front of the particular cliff face. The frames may include aline connecting the frame to a particular area of the three-dimensionalmap.

The three-dimensional map may also display traffic flow information asillustrated in FIG. 6. In a traditional two-dimensional map, trafficflow information is typically overlaid over a particular route, thusobscuring any underlying information printed on the surface of the map.Using the three-dimensional map, traffic information may be displayed onthe cliff face such that the traffic information does not obscure anyinformation visible on the surface of the map. Other various informationmay also be printed on the cliff face along a desired route such asindicators for road work, traffic cameras, and other relevant roadwayinformation.

The three-dimensional map cliff face may include additional featuressuch as varying depth and thickness and may also be divided into rowsand columns.

In one embodiment, the three-dimensional map may further include a cliffface valance 720 to provide a relatively flat surface for displayingadditional content as shown in FIG. 7. Typical routes on a map are notstraight and include various amounts of curvature, thus turning a cliffface following the route away from a user. By providing a cliff facevalance 720 as shown in FIG. 7, parts of the cliff face are “filled in”to give a straight or optimal frontal plane on which content can beprojected and shown to a user.

The three-dimensional map may also be used to display weatherinformation as illustrated in FIG. 8. Information such as projectedrainfall and other various weather information may be printed on eitherthe surface of the three-dimensional map or one or more of the clifffaces along with other indicators such as the time corresponding toanticipated rainfall.

In various embodiments, a unique three dimensional voluminous space isformed by the boundaries of the cliff faces, in somewhat of a bowl-likespace. This space is easily understood as relating to the surface andmap area that is at its base. This voluminous space is used to postweather content in the manner that the changes of the radar graphics areanimated over time in a vertical manner. Typically, the weather radar orDoppler maps are animated in a horizontal side to side fashion. There isalways a time counter somewhere near the total weather map image thatcounts in hours how the radar graphic indicating rain and otherparticipation is moving across an area.

The problem with this presentation is that the user has to keep an eyeon the area they are interested in and coordinate or try to catch whenand at what time the participation is over their area of interest. Oneembodiment keeps the graphic in the same horizontal location on theweather map as it displays the various changes in the radar graphics ina vertical manner in the clearly identified and contained threedimensional area that is formed by the boundaries of adjacent clifffaces. Also, the time changes are placed and notated on a verticaldesign element A vertical pole with annotations of time increments, or agraphic of progressing time points.

The benefit of animating the radar and weather changes in a verticallycontained area is that it allows the viewer to keep their view and eyefocused on their area of particular interest, with the time pointsdisplayed along the edges of the adjacent cliff faces. They can easilytell at what time point the participation is expected in their area ofinterest without having to move their eyes and try to find the counter,as in a typical map, and trying to time or synchronize their area withthe time—which is always located at an extremity of the weather map.

With one embodiment the changes are displayed at in a vertical threedimensional fashion in the three dimensional voluminous area, and thuskept in the same area—the viewer's area of interest, and also the timepoint is displayed on the adjacent cliff faces, and thus the viewerdoesn't have to look away from their focus area to find the time point.One embodiment maintains the focus area and the time points of thechange in the radar system and other weather description graphics in onelocation, thus benefiting the viewer with a faster and more easilyunderstood display.

The three-dimensional map may also be animated such that each of thetiers or levels of the three-dimensional map may grow or revealthemselves from the three-dimensional map, and further the map may becapable of being rotated by a user to view the map from various angles.

More on Weather Map Embodiments

The following references provide more detail in regard to FIG. 8:

-   -   302 Three-dimensional layered map    -   310, 311, 312 Roadway cliff faces    -   320 Map surface area—Tier 1    -   321 Map surface area—Tier 2    -   322 Map surface area—Tier 3    -   401, 402, 403, 404 Weather graphics    -   501 Area boundary frame, plane(s)    -   601 Animation time bar(s)    -   701 Weather alert icons, graphics, text—on roadways/cliff face    -   801 Roadways on surface map    -   901 Roadway annotation on cliff face(s)

FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment and use of displaying weather informationon a three-dimensional layered map. The example of FIG. 8 depicts athree-dimensional layered map for the metro area in Knoxville, Tenn.,and consists of three tiers or levels and consisting of three clifffaces 310, 311, 312.

The first tier 322 is the lowland spatial area in the foreground, whichis bounded (a) on the south by the lower extremity of the map, (b) onthe east by 501 (an arbitrary structure whose purpose is to define aboundary and display pertinent annotations), (c) on the west by 501 (anarbitrary structure whose purpose is to define a boundary and displayannotations), and (d) on the north by the predominant cliff faces 310and 311, which are the I-40 roadway that completely transverses the mapin an east/west direction.

The second tier 321 is an “inset” area or the “bowl” or “niche” likearea, bounded (a) on the north by 312, a half-arc cliff facerepresenting I-640, and (b) on the south by a segment of 311. The thirdtier 320 is the top tier or level bounded by 501, constructed structuresforming sides to give definition to the space and for the display ofannotations.

FIG. 8 is a representation of the weather patterns of a given areadisplayed in a three dimensional and layered manner. The basis of theweather map is the three-dimensional layered map design that has beenpreviously described that consists of layers or tiers of a given maparea whose boundaries are typically roadways, with the said layers beingraised to different heights or levels, thus producing layers of tiers ofdifferent areas at different heights.

Of particular note is the use that the three-dimensional layered weathermap makes of the three dimensional voluminous area that results from thespatial area or a base and the side, which can be another roadway raisedto form another tier, or the side can be formed by an arbitraryconstruction to define a boundary with an adjacent cliff face.Alternately, the voluminous area can be “free standing” without anyimmediate structure such as the cliff face to form a boundary.

The areas can include any number of graphic elements representingdifferent weather patterns and participation such as Doppler radar,cloud formations, rain, wind, sunshine, and so forth.

The time bar can be located anywhere along the cliff face or boundaryconstruct, with increments arranged in a vertically oriented fashion. Inthis drawing the time bar is located on the extremity of the cliff face.The time bar can control or further describe an animation of thedifferent weather graphic elements that are forecast or known to bepresent at any given time as represented by increments along the timebar, resulting in an animation of the weather patterns for the differentareas that move in a vertical manner in synchronization with the timefor that weather pattern or forecast of that weather pattern orparticipation.

In one embodiment the time bar changes in an animating fashion over timein a vertical fashion versus a horizontal fashion. In some embodiments auser is able click or select a specific or desired time on the time barand the forecast of weather pattern/participation is displayed on thesame vertical level as the time. In some embodiments a time point on thetime bar is synchronized and displayed at the same level with theforecast weather pattern at that time.

With a typical weather map the animation is played and shown over oneflat monolithic surface along with a clock that cycles thru the hours ofthe movement of the weather graphic elements. The weather person alwayssays something to the effect of “this front will be moving into thisarea around this time.” This manner of presenting the weather obscuresthe viewer from seeing the area that the participation is over andrequires them to move their eye far away from the map in order tocoordinate at what time the weather graphic is at what location. It isdifficult, at best, for the viewer to try to match or pair theparticipation displayed with the correct time.

The benefit of the three-dimensional layered weather map is that theparticipation or other weather graphics are animated, along in avertical fashion—thus not requiring the viewer to synchronize their eyemovements with fast moving time display/clock that is typicallydisplayed in a far right or left side extremity corner of the viewscreen or otherwise far away from the map. Displaying the participationgraphics in a vertical manner that is clearly within site and bounded bythe time animation bar, enables the viewer to more easily match thechanging participation graphic at its appropriate time. The weathergraphics and representation of time are close together; and because theareas are on different levels, the area of interest is more clearlydefined and thus improves the viewers comprehension of the area of theanimated weather pattern.

Animation

The three-dimensional layered map grows and expands, like an accordionlaying on its side, with the divided spatial areas, animating upward toreveal or uncover the content on the cliff faces. As regardstouch-screens applications/devices the user can swipe a roadway toengage the cliff face to move upward to expand the cliff face area. Oncedone, can return or lower the tiers/levels to a default flat non-clifffaced spatial area again.

Double Indexes

A very unique, distinct, and useful benefit comes with thethree-dimensional layered map and resulting cliff faces, in that thedesigner has the opportunity to use the cliff face as an area fordisplaying another index. Indexes have traditionally been used on theextremity of a two dimensional map to locate points in the spatial area,such as alphabetical characters along the x axis, and numerals along they axis. Points of interest and roadways can be found by lining up orfollowing the grid coordinate. The unique benefit of the Tier Map isthat we can now use the cliff face to design/display another grid thatthe user can find points of interest on. This use of a map with doubleindexes one for spatial areas and another for the cliff face has a greatvalue and use.

Textures

The three-dimensional layered map proposes a map with differentcomponents, such as the prominent the cliff faces. This is a uniquedesign opportunity to segregate the cliff face function and interactionwith the spatial areas by the use of textures. For example, all spatialareas with a cloth texture and the cliff faces with wood and metaltextures.

Light, Projections, and Reflections

We can use the simulation of light, projections and reflections todisplay some areas of the cliff face that can be occluded depending upona viewing angle. But with the proper use of a graphic element such as aplane or three dimensional object that is reflective, then we can showthe user the occluded area via it being a reflection in a near-by objectsat in front of the occluded portion of the cliff face. Example a chromeball judiciously placed will reflect a section of a cliff face that isoccluded from the user viewpoint.

Additional Embodiments

Other additional content may also be displayed on the cliff face of thethree-dimensional map. For example, a street, such as those used inGoogle's Street View feature of Google Maps, may be displayed on thecliff face along a route. Under current street view systems, typically awindow showing the street view is displayed in a separate frame from anoverhead map view such that a user must continuously look back and forthbetween the two views to determine the location of the street view.

By displaying the street view on the cliff face of the three-dimensionalmap, a use may view both the street view and the location along a routeat the same time. Further, the cliff face may show relevantadvertisements for businesses located along the route so that as a userviews a business on street view an advertisement is placed on the cliffface adjacent or near the street view.

The foregoing description of embodiments for this invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light ofthe above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in aneffort to provide illustrations of the principles of the invention andits practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skillin the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.All such modifications and variations are within the scope of theinvention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted inaccordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, andequitably entitled.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A non-transient computer readable mediumcontaining program instructions for causing a computer to perform themethod of: displaying a map of a geographical area; dividing thegeographical area into surfaces that are depicted at different levelsthat are not related to topography of the geographical area, therebyforming boundaries between the surfaces, where the boundaries aredisposed at travel ways, the travel ways thereby forming cliff faces inthe geographical area between the different levels of the surfaces; anddisposing information items on the cliff faces.
 2. The non-transientcomputer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the map is atwo-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional structure.
 3. Thenon-transient computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the map isformed as a three-dimensional structure.
 4. The non-transient computerreadable medium of claim 1, wherein the travel ways include at least oneof a road, path, trail, waterway, walkway, bus route, and railway. 5.The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein theinformation items include at least one of a business, traffic condition,travel way condition, weather condition, construction, transit schedule,toll, fare, and scenic information at the corresponding position alongthe travel ways.
 6. The non-transient computer readable medium of claim1, wherein the information items include at least one of text, audio,video, animation, fixed graphic, and icon.
 7. The non-transient computerreadable medium of claim 1, wherein the cliff face is divided into rowsand columns of information items.
 8. The non-transient computer readablemedium of claim 1, further comprising a valence disposed along the cliffface.
 9. The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 1, whereinthe map is displayed on a computer monitor and is interactive with auser who selects different travel ways on which to form boundaries andcliff faces.
 10. The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 1,wherein the information items are updated in real time.
 11. Aprocessor-based method for producing a map, the method comprising thesteps of: retrieving with the processor map information, includingtravel ways and information items corresponding to items of interestalong the travel ways, storing the map information in a memory;selecting map positions of interest and travel ways of interest from thememory; presenting the map positions of interest and travel ways ofinterest on a display as a geographical area; and depicting surfaces ofthe geographical area at different levels that are not related totopography of the geographical area, with boundaries between thesurfaces, where the boundaries are disposed at the travel ways ofinterest, the travel ways of interest forming cliff faces in thegeographical area between the different levels of the surfaces, with theinformation items disposed on the cliff faces.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein: the travel ways include at least one of a road, path,trail, waterway, walkway, bus route, and train rail, the items ofinterest include at least one of a business, traffic condition, travelway condition, weather condition, construction, transit schedule, toll,fare, and scenic information at the corresponding position along thetravel ways, and the information items include at least one of text,audio, video, animation, fixed graphic, and icon.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising the step of updating the information itemsin real time.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step ofprinting the map.